Switch-locking mechanism



y c. CHRISTENSEN 1,758,499

SWITCH LOCKING MECHANISM Filed 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l f/W/an for6707157627 'ilrzliiflsen May 13, 1930. c. CHRISTENSEN SWITCH LOCKINGMECHANISM Filed 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MHz/672i??? JYZW " types of andswi accordance wtih he Patented May 13, 193%) CHRISTI-N CHRISTENSEN. OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRICAL ENGI- F ILLINOISSWITCH-LOCKING MECHANISM Application filed August 17, 1925. Serial No.50,540.

T he presei t intention relates in general to electrical sw tches andmore particularly to i iniprovements in electrical switch lockingmechanism. My improvements have particular reference to switchesemployed in connection with high tension transmission service, such as,

31mg switches.

for example, disconnc connecting switches adapted to function asauxiliary switching elements, as is well. lainown to those rsatile w llthe present art, and to operate in conjunc ion with any switching deviceof high power interrupting capacit y.

In transmission installations such as power house and sub-stationinstallations, it is the general practice to use a disconnecting switchin the line immediately before the typical oil circuit breaker. Also,quite commonly, a disco acting switch is employed in the line leadingfrom the circuit breaker intermediate the breaker and the omnibus bar.The duty of initially interrupting the current flow performed by the oilcircuit breaker,

whereas the function of the disconnecting switch is to thereafter openthe line where it enters the station and to thus d'sconnect all of thestation apparatus, including the circuit breaker fromthe line. This, asis obvious, enables repair and adj stment of the circuit breaker andother station apparatus to he i'icrtormed without danger of injury fromthe line potential.

I have found, in practice, that the ordinary switch locking mechanism donot fui'iction properly-when the switch is subjected to strez-sses andstrains. This is particulrly true of high tension switcl'ies or switchesdesigned for outdoor installation 'TllGH which employ long insulatorpillars. in the case of switches employing long insulator pillars, thereis quite a considerable amount of del'le :tion or sprii'ig between theterminals of the switch.

I propose, in features of the present invention, to provide a hightension switch locking mecl'ianism which will remain positive andredahle in operation even under arelatively large deflection of theinsulators and switch terminals.

In practice, 1 was confronted with the problem of providing suitable andreliable locking mechanism for switches having a plurality of switchunits such as multiple single pole, single throw, gang operatedswitches. l have reference generally to switches s ch as that disclosedin my eo pending application, SerialNo. 6%,750, filed June 21st, 1923,now Patent No. 1.58%,732, May 18, 1926. Due to the play existent between the switch units, 1 found it impracticable to employ lockingmechanism connected to the switch blades of all the units. Moreover, itwas far more desirable to provide locking mechanism associated with oneswitch unit, adapted to not only lock the unit in its closed position,but to also contemporaneously cause all of the other units to be lockedin their closed positions.

I propose. in accordance with other features of the present invention,to provide a switch having a plurality of switch units, wherein one ofthe switch units is provided with locking mechanism, adapted tocontemporaneously lock all of the switch units in their closedpositions.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved switch lockingmechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch having aplurality of switch units wherein one lock suliices to lock all of theunits thereof.

Other objec and advantages of the present invention will more fullyappear from the following detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment thereof, andin which Figure l is a front elevation of a plurality ot switch unitsembodied with the features of the present ll'lVelltlOll;

Figure 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 1',

l igure 3 an enlarged elevation of the locking mechanism as shown inFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of the locking mechanism shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on a line of Figure 3 looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows; 1

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on a line 66 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of switch blade. 1

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which like reference numeralsdesignate similar parts throughout the several views, 10 denotes a baseor supporting frame upon which the switch is erected and which may be ofany conventional form. The base 10 may be mounted on pole tops,switching towers, or in any other desired location. The switch I haveillustrated, comprises three switch. units and in practice is commonlytermed a three single pole single throw gang operated switch. It is, ofcourse, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to thenumber of units shown nor to the number of poles in each unit.

All of the units are identical in construction with the exception thatthe middle unit has, mounted thereon, my improved locking mechanism.Therefore, a description of one of the units will suffice for all ofthem.

Each unit comprises a pair of suitable insulators 11 and 12 which may beattached to the base 10 in any desirable manner. The free end of theinsulator 12 carries the hinge terminal 13 to which the switch blade 14is pivoted and the free end of the insulator ll. carries the contactterminal 15. Each terminal has, extending therefrom, a connecting lug orclip 16 to which are connected the opposite sides of the line (notshown).

The switch blade 14 comprises two spaced blades 14 engaging its pivot onopposite sides of the hinge terminal 13. fr pivot bolt 17 passes throughthe switch blades and through the hinge terminal. The hinge terminal isprovided with the usual spring washers 18 which function to normallyurge the switch blades into firm contact wi h the sic es of the terminal13. The other end of the switch blade 14 has, passing therethrough, apair of bolts 19 and 20, one on each side of the terminal which are alsoprovided witl spring washers 21. These spring washers function to drawthe blades 14 together, thus enabling the. blades to fit tightly on theterminal 15, and causing the switch blades to form a contact with thesides of the terminal 15.

Located intermediate the ends of the switch blades 14 is a pivot bolt 22to which one end of an element or link 23 is pivoted.

The pivoted end of the link 23 preferably projects intermediate theblades 1%. Mounted on the pivot bolt 22 are the usual spring washers 24,one on each side of the blades. The link 23 passes through a. suitableaperture in the base 10 and is pivotally attached at its other end tothe free end of an arm 25, attached to a shaft 26. The shaft 26 is shownas being of a square cross-section and is journaled in suitable bracketelements 27 carried by the base or frame 10. The arm of each unit may berigidly attached to the shaft 26, being held in place thereon by anysuitable means, as for an example, a set screw, not shown. Also, theaperture in the arm 25 for receiving the shaft 26 may be a little largerthan the shaft, so as to permit adjustment thereon. That isto say, quitefrequently one switch becomes a little loose with respect to the otherswitch units and it is necessary to tighten it up in order for it towork in harmony with the other units. This adjustment may be made if thearm 25, is not rigidly attached to the shaft 26.

he arm 25 of each switch unit is mounted on the shaft 26, which iscommon to all units. Therefore, by operating one switch blade about itshinge terminal, it must neces sarily follow that the switch blades ofthe other units must be contemporaneously operated. Obviously, bylocking one of the units, it would result in all of the other unitsbeing also looked. I shall now proceed to describe in detail my novellocking mech anism.

My novel lock which is designated generally by the reference numeral 30is shown mounted on the middle switch unit, in Figure 1. It is to beunderstood, however, that this lock may, with equal advantage, bemounted on any of the three units illustrated, the result accomplished,however, being the same. The lock device to vbe hereinafter described indetail is of the same species as that disclosed in my co-pendingapplication, Sc ial No. 656,442. filed *lugust 8, i923. now at No1,720,318, Ju 16, 1925}. It is my intention to cover the broad aspect ofmy loclmochan' in tho pplication l. to on or ce ilil specific drclosedin the present ap p ication n unis of this Look 30 comprises a pair ofguides or horns 31 (Figs. 3 and 5), one being disposed, on each side ofthe contact terminal 14, and extending upwardly from the head of theassociated insulator. The space separating the horn, or in other words,the throat, therebetween, is immediately above the contact terminal 15and is preferably substantially in alignment therewith, Thisconstruction is desirable inasmuch as it enables the horns or guides toproperly guide the two switch blades 14-44 of the switch blade 14 downon opposite sides of the terminal. 15. Each guiding horn includes acurved rear or outer wall 33 and two forwardly extending side walls 34which form vertical rectangular recesses 35 in the opening faces of theguiding horns for receiving detent members 36. EX- tending upwardly'fromthe recess portion is a curved horn consisting of a front web 37 havinga reinforcing rib or flange 38 extending backwardly along each edge ofthe web 37.

The upper part of the contact terminal 15 is reduced in thickness toform slots oneach side between the terminal and opposing faces of theguiding horn 31 for receiving the switch blades 141t. The scarfed-outsides of the terminal leave shoulders 39 (Figure 5), which form positivestops for the inward movement of the switch blades lt' l l. The thickerportion below the shoulders 39 is formed with a horizontal base 41mounted on and attached to the terminal bracket or head 42 carried onthe upper end of the insulator 11. The lower ends of each guiding horn31 are placed in contact with the sides of the widened portion of thecontact terminal and these horns are each formed with a cross web or bar13 for enabling them to be bolted to the terminal base 41. Bolts 14 areused for this purpose. These bolts, as desired, may also serve theadditional function of securing the terminal base 41 to the mountinghead 42.

The detent or looking function is performed by the two detent members36-36 which are mounted for pivotal motion in the rectangular recessesor pockets 3535, the upper ends of these detent members having inwardlyextending jaws 46, which are adapted to hook over the upper longitudinaledges of the blades l4-14.

From the jaws 46, the detent members are curved backwardly to formguiding horns 47, by which the switch blades 1414 are guided over theterminal 15 and the detent members are cammed apart for permitting theengagement of the switch blades with the terminal. The detent members 36are pivotally supported at their lower ends by providing pivot pins orstuds 48, extending from each edge of the detent member in a planeparallel to the switch blades. These pivot pins or studs suitablvcarried by the lower portion of the guiding horns 31*31.

Each detent member is preferably urged against its respective blademember 14' by suitable spring or resilient mechanism whereby an intimatefirm contact is maintained between the blades 14' and terminal 15 andalso between the blades and the detent members. This spring mechanismmay consist of springs arranged singly or in duplicate to apply aresilient pressure to the back of each detent member at one or morepoints. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, only one spring isassociated with each detent member. In the arrangement shown the spring51 bears, at one end, against the inner wall of the associated horn 31and at its other end against the back of the horn portion of the detentmember 36. A cup portion is formed on the inner wall of the horn 31 forreceiving the end of the spring. If it is so desired, means may beprovided for adjusting the tension of the spring. Such a means isillustrated in my co-pending application, Serial No. 656,442 now Pat entNo. 1,720,818, July 16, 1929, previously mentioned.

It will be observed that by locating the two jaws 36 in the sametransverse plane as the contact terminal 15 and applying spring pressureto the outer sides of thes-L 'aws acting inwardly against the switch bhr these jaws perform the secondary fun on of firmly pressing the switchblades into intimate contact with the contact terminal effectiveelectrical connection therewith, in addition to their primary functionof locking or restraining the switch blades. Also, the jaws or detentmembers 36 may operate as a friction or spring lock, or as a positivelock, depending upon the requirements of the situation. In thepreviously mentioned c -pending application, I have illustrated bothforms of locking mechanism. In the present embodiment, only a positivelock is illustrated.

lVhen a positive lock is provided, obviously, means must be furnishedfor releasing this positive lock before the switch blades can bewithdrawn. in exemplary form of this releasing means is illustrated inFigures 8 and a. l have found that the term illustrated is not onlyhighly advantageous, but is both efficient and practical in use. Beforeproceeding to describe this rele mechanism, it should be noted that thejaws slti--li3 are cut at right angles to the plane of the terminal 15(Figure 5), so as to hook over the outer edges of the switch blades 1l1l and positively lock the switch blades in against the contactingterminal.

The novel releasing means consists of a lock releasing member (31 whichpivoted on a bolt 62 passing through both the blades 14, adjacent theiruter ends. pivot lug 63 extends down from the releasing member (31between the sw, li. blades and receives the pivot bolt (52. A ring (itextends from the outer end of the snitch reh-rasing 61 for receiving thehook on the end of the usual. operating pole. The lock releasi g member(31 is provided with projection 5 which has the lateral projection (Eliadapted to be moved between the horns ill- The projection es comprisesthe separating member and when it is forced down between the curvedhorns 17 is adapted to ram the detent members 3h apart, therebyreleasing the jaws 16 from the top of he blades 14l'1l', permitting thelatter to be withdrawn from their contact with the terminal 15. Thiswill follow as a natural sequence, resulting from an upward or outwardpull exerted on the ring (3 t through the usual switch operating pole.The initial effort will force the projection 65 down between the curvedhorn at? so as to separate the locking jaws after which the continuouspull on the pole will draw the switch blades out over the end of thecontact terminal 15.

Another feature of my invention is concerned with the lug 65 of thereleasing member 61. This lug is provided with a projection whichconstitutes a stop. This step is adapted to engage the bolts 20intermediate the blades i l and to thereby limit the movement of thereleasing member away from the horns 31. I

This stop or projection 70 is a new feature of my novel lock and is notdisclosed in the aforementioned co-pending application. It is highlyadvantageous since it prevents the lock releasing member from beingmoved about its pivot into engagement with the lug 16 connected to thetransmission line.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that when one of theswitch units of the gang or group composing the switch proper is lockedin a closed position by my novel locking mechanism, all the other units,in the switch must necessarily also be locked in a closed position,since they are all connected to a common shaft 26. Upon pulling the ring64 of the lock 30 downwardly with a switch operating pole or some otheranalogous or suitable means, not only is the middle unit unlocked, butall of the other units are unlocked. Also, by continuing to pull thering 64, not only will the blade associated therewith be pivoted aboutits hinged terminal into an open position, but all of the other bladesof the switch will be moved similarly. Thus I have provided asimplecompact and highly advantageous switch locking mechanism which involvesfar less effort in its operation than similar switches as heretofore;one loclr serving to look a plurality of units in a switch.

In Fig. 7, I have illustrated a switch blade similar to the oneillustratd in the adjacent Fig. 2, with the exception that my novel lockmechanism 30 and the lock releasing mem ber 11 are omitted. The blade isprovided with an aperture 90 near its upper end for receiving the end ofa pole hook or the like. Obviously, when each switch unit has a switchblade with such an aperture, it is possible to open all of the unitscontemporaneously by inserting the pole hook in the aperture 90 of oneof the blades and pulling the pole downwardly. This action is possibleonly due to the fact that all of the switch units are associated with acommon operating shaft 26.

The present invention is not to be limited by the above description ofmy preferred emlJ-odinnnit of the inventioi'i but only in so far asdefined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In combination, a plurality of switch units, a common supportfor the said units, each unit comprising a switch clement hav ing twoblades and a terminal disposed inter mediate the two blades when theswitch element is in contact therewith, and lockii 5 mechanismassociated with the said element of only one of the units for lockingall of the units against operation, the said locking mechanism includingmeans for locking the blades associated therewith to the terminal andfor urging the blades into tighter engagement with the terminal disoosedthere between.

2. In combination, a plurality of switch units, a common support for thesaid units, each unit comprising a switch element having two blades'anda terminal disposed intermediate the two blades when the switch elementis in Contact therewith, locking mechanism associated with the saidelement of only one of the units for locking all of the units againstoperation, the said locking mechanism including means for locking theblades associated therewith to the terminal and for urging the bladesinto tighter engagement with the terminal disposed therebetween, meansfor releasing the said locking mechanism to permit the switch element tobe moved away from the terminal, and means carried by the switch elementassociated with the locking mechanism for urging the blades towards eachother and into engagement with the terminal, said latter means beinglocated in the path of movement of the releasing means thereby servingas a stop for limiting the movement of the releasing means.

3. In combination, a switch element comprising two blades, a terminaldisposed intermediate the two blades when the switch element is incontact therewith, resilient means for urging the two blades inwardlyinto engagement with the terminal, means for locking the said element inengagemen with the terminal and releasing means for rendering the saidlocking means ineffective and for permitting the said elementto be movedout of cooperation with the said terminal, 'l e said resilient meansbeing located in the path of movement of the releasing means therebyserving to limit the movement of the said releasing means.

4-. In combination, a switch element comprising two blades, a terminaldisposed intermediate the two blades when the switch element is incontact therewith, means for urging the two blades toward each other andinto engagement with the terminal, a lock for locking the said elementto the terminal and means for releasing the lock to permit the elementto be moved away from the terminal, the said urging means being locatedin the path of movement of the releasing means thereby serving as a stopfor limiting the movement of the releasin means.

5. In combination, a switch element conr prising two blades, a terminaldisposed intermediate the two blades when the switch element is incontact therewith, spring washer mechanism for urging the blades towardeach other and into engagement with the terminal, a lock for loclnng theswitch element- CIl in engagement with the terminal, and means forreleasing the said lock to permit the switch element to be moved awayfrom the said terminal, the said spring washer mechanism being locatedin the path of movement of the releasing means thereby serving to limitthe movement of the resilient means.

6. In combination, a switch comprising a plurality of units, each ofwhich includes a switch blade, a common support for said units, each ofsaid units being adapted to accommodate a different phase current and being spaced a predetermined distance from each of the other units, commonconnecting means for said units spaced from said blades, and acombination operating and lock construction, associated with only one ofsaid units and connected to the blade thereof for contemporaneouslylocking all of the units against operation through said connectingmeans, said operating construction being movable to actuate theassociated blade and said connecting means causing the other units tomove in unison therewith.

7. In combination, a switch comprising three switch units, each of whichincludes a switch blade, common connecting means for said units spacedfrom said blades, and a combination operating and lock constructionconnected only to the blade of the middle unit for conten'iporaneouslylocking all of the units against operation through said connectingmeans, said operating construction being movable to actuate the blade ofthe middle unit and said connecting means causing the units to move inunison therewith.

8. In combination, a grounded supporting frame, a plurality of pairs ofinsulators mounted on the front of the frame, switch terminals mountedon said insulators, switch blades pivoted on certain of said terminalsand contacting with the remainder of said terminals, operating rodspivoted to said blades between the corresponding terminals of eachblade, a rocking shaft having bearings back of said frame arms mountedon the shaft and pivoted to said rods, said rod arms and shaft beingconnected together for common operation, locking means for locking oneof said blades to the corresponding free terminal, and a lock releasingand switch operating' eye carried by said one blade.

9. In combination, a grounded supporting frame, a plurality of pairs ofinsulators mounted on the front of the frame, switch terminals mountedon said insulators, switch blades pivoted on certain of said terminalsand contacting with the remainder of said terminals, operating rodspivoted to said blades between the corresponding terminals of eachblade, a rocking shaft having bearings back of said frame, arms mountedon the shaft and pivoted to said rods, said rod arms and shaft beingconnected together for common operation, locking means for locking oneof said blades to the corresponding free terminal, and a switchoperating eye carried by one of said blades only for opening and closingall the blades in unison.

10. In combination, a switch comprising a plurality of switch units, acommon support for said units, locking means associated with only one ofthe units for locking all the other units against operation, saidlocking means including a release member and means efiective upon acontinued movement of the release member for actuating the switch unit,and a link mechanism connecting all of the switch units whereby theswitches move in unison upon the actuation of one of the units.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th day ofAugust, 1925.

CHRISTEN CHRISTENSEN.

